Brunswick officials weigh options for collector street plan

Thursday

Aug 1, 2013 at 10:48 AM

The adoption of the street plan that proposes to connect subdivisions and streets has met mixed reactions.

By Jason GonzalesJason.Gonzales@starnewsonline.com

The quiet cul-de-sac streets at the end of North Olde Towne Wynd were exactly what Julia Lawrence and her family were looking for when they moved into their home a month ago from Florida.Residents walk and bike the streets instead of living in fear of being hit by cars, she said."I feel safe," she said. "I don't worry about some jerk driving too fast or some kid texting while driving and hitting my granddaughter."But if the Belville Board of Commissioners hadn't shot down a proposed collector street program, Lawrence's street would have been slated to become a throughway linking N.C. 133 and U.S. 17.As the adoption of the street plan that proposes to connect subdivisions and streets has met mixed reactions throughout northern Brunswick County, many officials wonder how they will implement the plan while balancing traffic needs with the needs of the residents. They also are considering how to respond to the outcry from those affected.Both Leland and Navassa adopted the plan, meaning they will adopt its policies and consider building the streets though construction funding is currently available.The Brunswick County Commissioners supported the plan in principle but did not adopt the policies.Leland Mayor Pro Tem Pat Batleman said the street plan is simply a blueprint."We will look at all people involved and determine if it's actually a good thing," she said. "But we needed to have some kind of a guideline to help us as we move along."The connection of roads along cul-de-sacs has historically met opposition.One of the reasons is because of residents like Richard Timberlake, who lives along Old Towne Wynd, who petitioned against Belville adopting the plan.He said people are looking for quiet neighborhoods."Traffic's already a problem," he said. "If there's a connection, it's only just going to get worse."The goal of the proposed streets is to alleviate traffic on the congested main corridors, said Mike Kozlosky, executive director of the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization."As communities grow and properties develop, this helps to identify how to collect traffic from primary arterials," he said. "It's a planning tool that local planning boards and town councils can use to identify future roadway connections."The plan also identifies locations for walking and bike paths.Nonetheless, the thought of a town cutting through a neighborhood or removing a house is never going to be met with a positive reaction, said Belville Commissioner Joe Breault."The streets were not designed to have that much traffic," he said.Batleman added that she hopes the plan is more for future projects than going into existing neighborhoods and doing work,"We have to be smart about this," she said. "I think in the end, if we are planning ahead, no one will feel the negative, but see the positive."Jason Gonzales: 343-2075On Twitter: @StarNewsJason